BILLINGS — Ryan Michael Wallace of Billings has been charged with six felonies after prosecutors said he drove recklessly near a school in Lockwood, then pointed a gun at another man who tried to stop him Tuesday morning.
Wallace, 18 years old, made his initial appearance in Yellowstone County Justice Court on Wednesday. He was booked into Yellowstone County jail, and bond was set at $35,000.
Yellowstone County deputies were called to El Paso Street in Lockwood at around 7:30 a.m. Tuesday for a report of a driver speeding up to 70 miles per hour on the road, according to court documents.
A man told deputies that he was dropping his kids off at a nearby school when he saw the driver. He admitted he threw something at the passing vehicle, which then approached him as he was walking to his home nearby.
The man said the vehicle drove right at him before swerving away, and he thought he was going to be run over.
The driver, later identified as Wallace, jumped out with a gun and asked the man if he threw something at him. The man said yes and asked why he was driving so fast with children in the area.
Wallace then allegedly pointed his gun at the man and another woman, said he didn't care who was in the area, then got back into his vehicle and took off.
Deputies then went to Wallace's residence on Lake Elmo Drive in Billings and saw him pulling into his driveway. Prosecutors said Wallace saw the deputies and drove away so fast he nearly crashed on a turn. Deputies did not go after him at that time because of children in the area waiting for school.
Wallace was later arrested following a traffic stop with a woman. She told police that Wallace had ditched his gun at her house. Police found a loaded Smith & Wesson gun there.
Wallace said he had been driving recklessly but denied pointing a gun at the two victims, a claim contradicted by the woman in his vehicle, according to prosecutors.
Wallace is facing two counts of assault with a weapon, three counts of criminal endangerment, and one count of tampering with evidence.
If convicted on the most serious charge, he faces up to 20 years in prison. He also faces up to $300,000 in fines.
